"Take it and give yourself a chance to remove your bandages." I offer the phone again.This time he does take it.It begins to play the video we had recorded a few hours ago. Esteban's stepmother immediately got up from her seat at the sound of his voice. But I refused to let her go near them. When I forcefully threw her onto the couch and whispered: "It's about time, they know your true face, so don't hurt yourself unnecessarily by trying to prevent it. Because today, even if I die in the attempt, I will let this family know the truth of all this and thanks to that justice will be done, murderer."That woman's eyes widen immensely, she knew perfectly well that what she was saying was true. My voice and threatening authority gave no room for doubt.I had done nothing so far, but now that I had decided to intervene, I wasn't going to let her spoil it. It wasn't just about showing evidence, it was also about doing justice."Who are you?" he asks intriguingly."A person who is out for j
Esteban's stepmother just looks at me smiling. The bitch smiles at me."Don't you see how much we've missed?" asks Aninka in a whisper.Her face looks swollen from crying so much."Are you seriously planning to continue protecting this murderer over us?" she states wounded.I open my eyes at such a statement and I'm sure I'm not the only one.I knew what Aninka was talking about, as while we were on our way here, we received 'actually Aninka received it' information of a murder caused by Esteban's stepmother towards the youngest son of this family. Although it was from a reliable source 'Viktor' catechisms of solid evidence. So Aninka and I dismissed such an idea.But now, with the CD Aninka holds in her hand and the pain on her face, I can deduce that there is something she knows."What are you talking about?" asks Esteban.Aninka doesn't answer, just goes to the DVD in the living room and inserts the CD.An image of a little boy hiding the camera among his toys. Then she whispers"I
My ankle hurts a lot, but right now that's not what worries me. I walk with the support of everything until I reach Esteban's father. I try to remember over and over again the first aid steps they taught me at the academy.I'm sweating profusely because of everything that has happened and what will surely happen if I don't remember the correct first aid steps. Viktor already called the ambulance, notifying me that he would be there in ten minutes. Minutes that Esteban's father may not have.Aninka is screaming her head off, clinging to her father.I ask for space and begin to perform the steps I could remember. He looks sweaty and a little cold. I put my ear close to his heart, noticing that it is not beating. Concern is palpable in the place.Without thinking twice, I begin to perform CPR.Fear is reflected in each of us. I am more than anyone else. Not because I have no clear knowledge of what I am doing. Since in the academy we were taught several times this first aid. What I am af
"No. I don't care what you're doing or what you're into. Right now the only thing that's important to me is your health and safety, which you've put aside for who knows what stupidity." says David angrily as he drives.My brother tends to be overprotective when he gets bitten by the bug. It's just at those times when it gets to an unbearable level."It's important. Esteban's father gave him a heart attack. That's why, to be left alone at Esteban's house."David sighs heavily and then says, "I understand it's serious, but that's not your business.""David!""No, Sofia. You've always shown yourself to be independent, capable and intelligent. But the latter goes in the wastebasket when you get the urge to be wonder woman."You always think that with your wit you can overcome everything that is set before you. But you don't. I know I call you wonder woman when you're at this stage where you think you can solve everything with your own hands. But that doesn't mean you really are."David pl
I walk as fast as I can to get closer to my friend."Why did this happen?" cried Aninka "Why did he have to die so soon?"Yes, she did die. I was not wrong, unfortunately I was not wrong."Aninka" he called out to her, but she doesn't listen to me, her wailing won't let her.Viktor looks at me as he hugs his girlfriend.I approach them both and fearfully place my hand on Aninka's back.I don't know how to act in these situations. There are times when no matter how much you think you'll be fine, you don't know how you'll react until you're in the situation.I have been fortunate enough not to have lost a family member. But I have experienced the death of loved ones, my boyfriend and friends who died in that accident that miraculously saved me.It was a hard blow. They were my anchor in this sea of regrets, struggles and at times joys.Although they were not people with whom I shared a blood tie, I felt them as part of me. Therefore, their death was a bitter pill to swallow that was dif
"I have to do it. It's my turn" says Aninka placing her hand on my shoulder "Can I ask you something?" I nod in response "Stay here representing my family.""But...""You are my only family now and you know it."She sighed in frustration, but I nod. She needs me. But when I find Esteban I'll give him a beating that will make his ancestors queasy.I lean toward the photograph of Esteban's father, in case my thought offended him. Aninka stands up and the man dressed in black guides her. Things are not good at the company and that is more than to be expected.In Russia, there are many prestigious companies. They are made up of partners with the same goal in mind. Some would say to improve people's lives, others to increase the value of their money. It does not matter what intrinsic purpose they have. The death of the president and maximum representative of the company generates conflict among the partners.Nobody knows what is going to happen from now on. Whether Esteban, Aninka or anyon
"Stay out of this, Sofia. It's none of your business.""It is if you're hurting Aninka. It is if you're wrong.""Your way of showing affection for my sister sucks.""I'm not just showing affection. I'm also showing support, which I'm sure you came here for anything but that."You're wrong about that. Now," Esteban says approaching me. I don't back away "Get lost from my sight, before I forget that you are a woman.In his voice I could tell he was no longer the guy who was sometimes decent to me. Now I can see a dark car that I didn't perceive or didn't have before.In front of me is the same guy with whom I have argued, conversed and even harassed 'because of Aninka'. But no matter how hard I try to look for that smart guy, I can't find him. Along with him disappeared the love for his family, for his sister.He passes by, approaching Aninka."Come with me," Esteban says to her, extending his hand for Aninka to take."What?" she asks confused.To tell the truth, we all are.Could it be
David comes to pick me up with his unfriendly face. He and my mother have me on the verge of insanity with their constant nagging about my health. Is it that they can't live their own lives, that they need to screw up mine?He sighed heavily."Did you take your meds?" is my brother's greeting."Yes," I lie.He looks at me suspiciously, as it is normal for me not to take them. I don't do it because I don't like it, it's just that I forget. And with everything that's going on it's more than normal for me to forget them."Aninka will live with us" he changed the subject because I know he will insist on the above.He looks at me confused."Did you inform mother about this?"" Yes, as usual I called her and she didn't answer so I left her a message informing her what I wanted to tell her by call."David nods in understanding. It's always like that, we're used to it by now."I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable" Aninka says sadly "It's just that Sofia is the only person I count on."David
Our dresses were very different. Aninka's looked like a princess, so big and with so much fabric to the point of her skirt and veil, dragging the place down. Mine, on the other hand, was simple. A dress with long sleeves and bare shoulders. With a fabric that clung to my body and stretched to the end of my feet.We were two opposing brides, one overdressed and one simple, at the wedding Aninka wanted: big and with guests I've never seen, but I know they are businessmen. Something that helps her fulfill that wish of Aninka's about having a big wedding. Where I could barely keep up with her and as soon as we get married I will run away. So many people overwhelm me.The two of us, we walk towards the man who will be our husband. The walk, quiet and slow, helps me remember everything we went through to get here. From the scorn, kidnappings, deaths and estrangement we lived through, to the good times and how we supported each other when it was necessary.Our relationship w
I knew the news had come as a surprise to both of them. But, I didn't know how they would react to it. And there was no time to back out now. I had given the news in a nervous shock. Esteban, immediately hugged me, while David, put away his gun."I can't lose them. I couldn't go on knowing they were dead. I can't fire anyone anymore." he whispered."It's okay. Don't worry. It'll just be this moment and it'll all be over.""You don't need to expose yourselves anymore. We can...""Go take her somewhere safe. I'll handle this." says David and I deny."I want them both to be okay" I say and Stephen nods."Everything will be fine, just, go get the boys to take you home safely and we'll come after.""No, I'm not going to leave them."Esteban brings his hands to his neck and removes the chain from where he pulls the ring he gave me over two years ago."This is my promise that I will come back alive. We will come back alive. But, we can only do t
'Well, that's partly your fault, Sofia. Are you going to ignore your responsibility in this?' my mind chides me 'You want it too, make the most of it.'Knowing what I want and that nothing will change if I don't want it, I open the shower door and he turns his body showing me the source of his problem."Get out, Sofia. I have things to do" Esteban says frustrated and I walk over to him, backing him up until I reach the wall he had used to hit himself."I can help you with that. I'm partly to blame for that" I say taking his hand which I place on my chest."Sofia, you're playing with fire.""We're underwater, fire isn't going to burn us here. So what are you going to do?" I ask and the next second, it's me against the wall, my dress torn and him, lifting one of my legs."Are you sure about this?" asks Esteban in a hoarse voice."And you are?" I ask challenging him and he smiles at me making a single movement that makes me stifle a moan."I am"
Five months laterHow naive I was to believe that I could leave or that I could help them. I was foolish to think that leaving here was possible and so, I was once again locked in the room that looks like a huge cage.After all, trying to escape through the air ducts because I wanted to get my life back ended up in the foiled plan that Esteban easily destroyed.Nor, escaping through the back door or another exit, was impossible because I didn't have the access code. And even going to the garden didn't give me any chance of leaving, because the place is so heavily guarded that it is impossible to take a step without my brother and Esteban knowing.But, since I tried to use knives from the kitchen to threaten the others to be released, I am now locked in the room, while the guys have focused on capturing the damn man they still haven't killed."Please let me out. I promise I won't do anything crazy." I ask bored from already being locked up for two weeks. Wher
Sofia narratesI was nervous, there weren't as many people as when Mordashov was killed. But, still, I was afraid. The possibility of seeing them get hurt or killed while I'm a dumb spectator, it's not pleasant.Quickly, she walked to the closet where Esteban took out his weapons and taking a long-range one, she looked for a place where she could use it.One thing that certainly shows that I'm in a big cage is that the window doesn't open. It is only a kind of material that is not glass or other fragile material, but I doubt it is iron because of how transparent the window is, impossible to break.Annoyed, I look all over the place for a spot where I can take out a part of my gun to shoot, fortunately, in the bathroom, I find a small hole where I place the gun looking slightly outward.The guys had already gotten out of their cars and were shooting incessantly. So, I had to hurry. A girl who had gone three years without using a gun was now going to do it to
The kiss was deep, something they had both missed doing and that was why Sofia was upset.'Why did she have to desire someone who had decided to leave? Why on earth would she enjoy lips she had been so determined to forget and a single second all effort went down the drain?' mentally wondered Sofia.Sofia moved her face to interrupt the kiss and with tears running down her cheeks and a pain in her throat, she spoke to him.'Why do you play with me like this? You arrive, you get my hopes up and you leave. Yours, Esteban, is not love, it's a damned emotional tourism that always takes me to the edge of the abyss that I strive not to fall.""It's not like that, Sofia.""Yes it is, Esteban. You supported me to the point of confusing me so much and believing you had changed. But, look at you, Esteban. This was what you wanted," Sofia says painfully and Esteban walks away."I left because if I didn't, they would come for you. They would because this never ends
The car carrying Sofia, celebrated the triumph of having taken 'the package' easily. While Aninka was desperately looking for her friend. Everyone thought it was all over, until a car driving like crazy appeared from a corner and crashed into the car carrying Sofia.Esteban Bogdanov was getting out of the car, shooting at the men who had tried to take Sofia. Behind him, his men were shooting at the Englishmen who dared to kidnap Sofia.The car, which had been wrecked on the side opposite to where Sofia was, was so destroyed that the man who had carried her over her body. When Esteban ran to rescue Sofia, the bodyguards who came out on motorcycles and in cars, began shooting at him, causing him to back away."Protect Sofia!" he shouted in annoyance, while looking for protection, shooting at the falling motorcycles as they lost their driver. Thing that doesn't stop the cars and Esteban immediately, understands what they want to do."It's a trap! Shoot anyone who tr
Two years laterSofia smiled with pleasure at what she had achieved. In all this time, she was completely dedicated to the academy where she teaches and to her own training. Along the way, several of her girls left for professional teams and the few that remained were talking about which team to join.As a result, the academy, which was full of life, now, did not have many students. Those who were still attending were doing it for entertainment and not because they wanted to prepare themselves to be on a professional team.Therefore, the demands of the last few months had diminished. Sofia took a deep breath and skated for the last time in the rink where she had demanded and had demanded from her students many things that helped them all grow. Both she and her students.Making a full presentation, she said goodbye to the rink where in the middle of the rink, she left the box that Esteban had left her as a gift the first time she taught at the academy.
Omnipresent NarratorThe boys smiled when they saw Sofia's attitude. She didn't look so sad and down. Although she was not happy, she looked calm and less mortified by the decisions of others. So, that, already, was considered a win."Well, the food was amazing, what do you guys have in mind to do now?" asks Zayn smiling."Aninka" they all say knowing that she is the one who always makes plans for all kinds of things."Well I have the perfect plan." says Aninka smiling as she gets up from her chair and runs to the sound she turns on "Dancing.""This must be a joke." mutters Sofia and Aninka gives her a dirty look."You promised you'd try. Besides, the fun hasn't even started yet. So, don't be a spoilsport." chides Aninka and Sofia sighs deeply."Okay, dance." says Sofia crossing my arms."Let's dance." corrects Aninka and she slides her hand down to the prosthesis she removes."Sorry, I can't dance without a foot." mutters Sofia reluctant